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COVID-19 Disruption To Routine Health Care Services: How 8 Latin American And Caribbean Countries Responded
Cristian A Herrera1, Clara Juárez-Ramírez2, Hortensia Reyes-Morales3
1Cristian A. Herrera, World Bank, Washington, D.C.
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|December 4, 2023
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted routine health services in Latin America and the Caribbean. Strategies like telemedicine and strengthening primary care are key to recovery and building resilient health systems.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) faced severe impacts from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
- Disruptions to routine health services delivery were a major consequence.
- Understanding these disruptions is crucial for health system recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine health services in LAC.
- To identify impacts, barriers, and innovative strategies from the perspective of health system decision-makers and managers.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative exploratory study design.
- Conducted 42 semi-structured interviews with health decision-makers and managers in 8 LAC countries.
- Interviews took place between May and December 2022.
Main Results:
- Identified impacts on routine services, including postponed primary care and hospital services.
- Highlighted barriers stemming from pre-existing structural weaknesses and pandemic-related difficulties.
- Documented innovative strategies such as public-private partnerships, telemedicine, and evolving primary care roles.
Conclusions:
- Short-term policy should prioritize recovering postponed services, especially for noncommunicable diseases.
- Medium- and long-term reforms must strengthen primary care and address structural issues like fragmentation.
- Building more resilient health care systems in LAC is essential for future health security.
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